Jacksonville officers charged with killing, robbing businessman

RON WORDAssociated Press

Published Friday, December 15, 2000

JACKSONVILLE -- Four men, including a current and former officer with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, have been arrested on federal charges that they kidnapped, robbed and killed a local businessman.

Officer Aric Sinclair, former Officer Karl T. Waldon, Waldon's brother-in-law, James Swift Jr., and Kenneth McLaughlin plotted the July 1998 robbery and kidnapping convenience store owner Sami Safar, which ended with him strangled in the back of Waldon's marked police cruiser, prosecutors said Thursday.

Sinclair, Waldon and Swift are charged in a 26-count federal indictment with violating Safir's civil rights. If convicted, the could received the death penalty and $9 million in fines.

McLaughlin, indicted separately, faces a possible life sentence.

Waldon, Sinclair, and Officer Jason D. Pough are also accused of using their police authority to steal drugs and money, conduct illegal searches and distribute cocaine. The allegations include the illegal use of pepper spray on one woman and the robbery of a Jacksonville home.

''Make no mistake about it, this is a sad day for the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office,'' Sheriff Nat Glover said. ''I am outraged at the conduct of these officers. Thank God it was only a few officers.''

Glover had asked the U.S. Attorney's office last year to conduct the investigation after learning his officers might be involved. State prosecutors refused to say Thursday if they also will file charges.

Sinclair -- whom Glover suspended last February -- had not hired an attorney Thursday, while court records did not name attorneys representing Swift, Pough and McLaughlin. Waldon's attorney, Hank Coxe, did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

The most serious charges surround Safar's July 3, 1998, kidnapping and slaying.

Safar was abducted shortly after he withdrew $50,000 from a SouthTrust bank branch, where Sinclair moonlighted as a security guard.

Sinclair allegedly tipped the others to the withdrawal. Minutes later, Waldon stopped Safar's car, handcuffed him and placed him in the back of his marked police car, prosecutors said.

He allegedly drove Safar to a local elementary school's parking lot, where he was joined by Swift and McLaughlin. The indictment alleges Waldon pinned down Safar and strangled him with a rope.

They moved Safar's body to the back seat of Swift's car and McLaughlin is accused of dumping his body in a wooded area. The men later met and divided the money, the indictment says.

Sinclair has been named in a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Safar's estate. The suit alleges Sinclair provided information to people that led to the robbery and slaying.

Sinclair, 32, also allegedly tipped off an associate of the withdrawal of $50,000 by Hussam Tahhan, a convenience store employee. After leaving the bank, a man pointed a gun at Tahhan and demanded the money. Tahhan tossed the bag of money into his car and ran back toward the bank. The gunman grabbed the money and fled.

Sinclair allegedly received $26,000 from the robbery.

The 54-page indictment outlines a number of other robberies the men allegedly took part in.

Sinclair turned himself in to the U.S. Marshal's Office in Jacksonville Wednesday evening. Waldon and Swift were arrested Wednesday in Dale City, Va., and had their initial court appearances Thursday in Alexandria, Va.

Sinclair, at his initial court appearance before U.S. Magistrate Howard T. Snyder, was ordered held without bond until his detention hearing next Wednesday. Waldon and Smith have a detention hearing Monday in Virginia.

U.S. Attorney Donna Bucella said she hopes the damage done by the officers' actions was partly repaired by the investigators who tracked them down.

''While the allegations outlined in this indictment undermine the public's trust and confidence in law enforcement, the work of this multi-agency task force should help minimize any damage that has been done,'' Bucella said.